all-or-nothing

adjective

all-or-noth·​ing

ˌȯl-ər-ˈnə-thiŋ

1

: all-or-none

2

a

: accepting no less than everything

he's an all-or-nothing perfectionist

b

: risking everything

an all-or-nothing combat strategy

Examples of all-or-nothing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Malinin will be joined on the men’s side by Andrew Torgashev, the all-or-nothing 24-year-old from Coral Springs, Florida, and Maxim Naumov, the 24-year-old from Simsbury, Connecticut, who fulfilled the hopes of his late parents by making the Olympic team. —Dallas Morning News, 11 Jan. 2026

The major studios largely have largely stopped trying to hit singles and doubles because their model is increasingly based on the all-or-nothing swing. —Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 9 Jan. 2026

If an all-or-nothing Dry January isn’t for you, consider a Damp January instead. —Emily Saladino, Washington Post, 9 Jan. 2026

Reducing soda intake does not have to be all-or-nothing. —Brittany Poulson, Verywell Health, 5 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1764, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for all-or-nothing

• nothing

Medical Definition

all-or-nothing

adjective

all-or-noth·​ing -ˈnəth-iŋ 

: all-or-none